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Retirement & Social Security

401(k) Contribution & Growth Calculator

Model your 401(k) balance at retirement using 2025 IRS contribution limits, employer match, catch-up contributions, and your expected rate of return. Compare scenarios side-by-side and see the impact of starting earlier.

Your 401(k) inputs

Typical: 50% match on first 6% you contribute (=3% effective match).

Projected balance at retirement
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Enter your details above.

Estimate only. 2025 IRS limit: $23,500 elective + $7,500 catch-up (50+) + $3,500 super catch-up (60-63 under SECURE 2.0). Total annual additions capped at $70,000.

How to think about your 401(k)

The 401(k) is the dominant private-sector retirement savings vehicle in the United States, holding more than $7 trillion in assets. Its power comes from three tax advantages that compound together: pre-tax (or Roth) contributions, tax-deferred growth, and an employer match that functions as a 50–100% immediate return on your contribution.

The 2025 contribution limits

Limit2025 amount
Elective deferral (under 50)$23,500
Catch-up contribution (50+)$7,500
Super catch-up (ages 60–63)$11,250 (SECURE 2.0)
Total annual additions (incl. employer)$70,000
Highly compensated employee threshold$160,000

The match is the priority

If your employer offers a match, contributing enough to capture the full match is the single highest-priority retirement contribution you can make. A typical 50% match on the first 6% of pay is equivalent to a 3% salary increase — and unlike a raise, the money compounds tax-deferred for decades. Failing to capture the match is the most expensive 401(k) mistake, leaving an estimated $1,300 per worker on the table each year according to Financial Engines.

The Roth 401(k) decision

Many plans now offer a Roth 401(k) option alongside the traditional pre-tax option. Roth 401(k) contributions do not reduce current taxable income, but qualified distributions in retirement are entirely tax-free. The decision hinges on whether you expect your marginal tax rate in retirement to be higher (favor Roth) or lower (favor traditional) than your current rate. A common strategy is to split contributions between both options for tax diversification.

For the broader comparison between 401(k) and IRA — including the backdoor Roth strategy — see our 401(k) vs IRA guide.

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Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

Q: What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2025?

The elective deferral limit for 401(k), 403(b), and most 457 plans is $23,500 in 2025, up from $23,000 in 2024. This cap applies to combined employee pre-tax and Roth contributions — you cannot defer $23,500 to traditional and another $23,500 to Roth in the same plan. The standard catch-up contribution for participants 50 and older remains $7,500, bringing the total employee deferral to $31,000. Limit increases are tied to inflation via the SECURE Act 2.0 indexing rules (rounded to the nearest $500) and are announced by the IRS each November for the following tax year. The limits apply per individual, not per job, so contributions to multiple employers' plans are aggregated.

Q: What is the super catch-up for ages 60-63?

SECURE Act 2.0 introduced an enhanced catch-up contribution for plan participants who are aged 60, 61, 62, or 63 by the end of the plan year — sometimes called the "super catch-up." For 2025, this enhanced amount is $11,250 (versus the standard $7,500), allowing eligible participants to defer up to $34,750 in employee contributions. The enhancement recognizes the limited runway late-career savers have before retirement and is indexed to inflation in $500 increments. The super catch-up applies only during those four specific ages — at 64 it reverts to the standard $7,500. Separately, since 2024, all catch-up contributions from high earners (wages above $145,000 in the prior year, indexed) must be made on a Roth basis under SECURE 2.0 § 603, a change the IRS delayed enforcing until 2026.

Q: How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?

Most financial planners recommend saving 12–15% of gross income for retirement, including any employer match — though Fidelity's 2024 analysis suggests 15% as a target to replace roughly 70–80% of pre-retirement income. At minimum, contribute enough to capture the full employer match; failing to do so effectively rejects part of your compensation package. If your employer matches 50% up to 6% of salary, contributing 6% yields a 9% total contribution rate — already within the recommended band. Auto-escalation features can boost your rate 1% annually until you hit your target. If you're starting late, prioritize maxing out the $23,500 deferral (or $31,000/$34,750 with catch-up) before funding taxable brokerage accounts.

Q: What is employer match and how does it work?

An employer match is a contribution your company makes to your 401(k) based on your own contributions, typically structured as a percentage of salary. The most common formula is a 50% match on the first 6% of pay — meaning a $100,000 earner contributing 6% ($6,000) receives a $3,000 employer contribution, effectively a 50% immediate return. Matches may vest immediately or on a graded schedule (e.g., 20% per year over 5 years) or cliff schedule (100% after 3 years); leaving before vesting forfeits unvested amounts back to the plan. Employer matches do not count toward the $23,500 employee deferral limit but do count toward the $70,000 overall 415(c) limit for 2025. Always contribute at least enough to capture the full match — otherwise you're turning down part of your compensation.

Q: Should I choose traditional or Roth 401(k)?

Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce taxable income today and grow tax-deferred, but are taxed as ordinary income in retirement; Roth 401(k) contributions are made with after-tax dollars and grow tax-free, with qualified withdrawals entirely tax-free. If you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement than today, Roth usually wins; if you expect a lower bracket, traditional is preferable. Roth 401(k)s have no income limits, making them attractive to high earners who can't contribute directly to a Roth IRA. A diversified strategy — splitting contributions between traditional and Roth — hedges against future tax law uncertainty. SECURE Act 2.0 also now requires catch-up contributions from high earners (>$145,000 prior-year wage) to be Roth, effective (after IRS delay) in 2026.

Q: What is the total 401(k) contribution limit including employer?

For 2025, the total 415(c) limit — employee deferrals plus employer match plus forfeitures plus any after-tax contributions — is $70,000, or $77,500 for those eligible for the standard $7,500 catch-up, and $81,250 for those eligible for the $11,250 super catch-up (ages 60–63). This overall cap applies per unrelated employer, so a consultant running a solo 401(k) and also working a W-2 job can theoretically stack limits across the two plans. Employer non-elective and matching contributions fill the gap above your $23,500 employee deferral. Self-employed individuals with a solo 401(k) can contribute as both employee and employer, often reaching the full $70,000 cap with around $280,000 of self-employment income. After-tax contributions above the employee limit but below the 415(c) cap can enable a "mega backdoor Roth" strategy if the plan permits in-service conversions.